BANGKOK – Myanmar’s month-old military regime ousted the country’s ambassador to the United Nations on Saturday, a day after delivering a passionate speech to the UN General Assembly in Geneva and calling for international aid for democracy in his homeland to recover.
The Ambassador, U Kyaw Moe Tun, concluded his speech with a three-finger salute, a gesture from the ‘Hunger Games’ films that became a symbol of a pro-democracy defiance for protesters in Myanmar and previously also in neighboring Thailand.
State television announced that he had resigned, saying he “betrayed the country and spoke for an unofficial organization that does not represent the country and abuses the power and responsibilities of an ambassador.”
The speech of mr. Kyaw Moe Tun has promoted the pro-democracy movement of Myanmar, which has been holding daily protests since February 1 when the military took over the country in a coup, and has expanded into a civil disobedience movement with hundreds of thousands of people running from their jobs off.
Mr. Kyaw Moe Tun was appointed under the civilian government that shared power with the military before the coup, and was outside Myanmar when the coup took place.
In his speech before the UN, he challenged the new military rulers and urged the world body ‘to use the necessary means to take action against the Myanmar army’ and bring democracy back.
“We need further strongest possible action by the international community to end the military coup immediately, to oppress the innocent people, to return state power to the people and to restore democracy,” he said.
He said he was speaking on behalf of the ousted civilian government, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained since the morning of the coup.
Before firing the ambassador, Antony J. Blinken, the US Secretary of State, tweeted praise for what he called a “courageous and clear” speech of Mr. Kyaw Moe Tun.
“We must all heed their call to restore democracy in Burma,” he said of the protesters, referring to Myanmar with the former name.
In recent days, pro-democracy voices such as Mr. Kyaw Moe Tun competes with the Myanmar generals for international recognition.
The junta has sent its newly appointed Foreign Minister, U Wunna Maung Lwin, to Bangkok to speak with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, who is at the helm. of the efforts among Southeast Asian countries to seek a peaceful solution to the crisis. in Myanmar.
Mrs. Retno also met with deposed members of the Myanmar parliament of Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, who fled to Thailand and tried to form a government and gain international legitimacy. Me. Retno urged all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from violence.
But on Saturday, protests were held across Myanmar, including in the northwestern city of Monywa, where hundreds of people were arrested, witnesses said. Police opened fire on the crowd and wounded two, according to the volunteer doctor.
In Yangon, the largest city in the country, thousands of people gathered at various demonstrations. Police used tear gas and smoke grenades to disperse crowds and demonstrators rushed through the streets and those who could catch, caught and arrested. Some police officers were apparently on journalists and people who were taking video with their phones or directing the events live.